Gourmet Hacks: 5 BEST Substitutes for Maple Syrup

Craving pancakes but maple syrup’s run dry?

No stress, we’ve got you covered with some genius swaps.

Sure, maple syrup is the OG topping for a stack of fluffy pancakes or crispy waffles.

But life throws curveballs, like a maple syrup shortage right when you’re about to dig in.

Good news is, there’s a bunch of alternatives just chilling in your kitchen, waiting for their time to shine.

We’re here to guide you through swapping in some sweet contenders that might just become your new go-tos.

Think outside the maple syrup bottle. It’s time to get creative and give your breakfast a twist.

Ready to turn a breakfast disaster into a delicious win?

What is Maple Syrup?

Maple syrup is a sweet, sticky, brown liquid derived from maple trees.

Maple syrup is produced in maple sap when boiled down to concentrate the sugars within the sap.

This is distinct from maple sugar, which is created when the boiling process has been stopped before all of the water has evaporated, or maple butter, which uses whole tree pieces rather than just sap.

Maple syrup was first produced by indigenous North Americans who would insert a small spigot into a maple tree to collect the sap.

They would then boil the collected sap down into a syrup, which can be used as an ingredient in food or as a sweetener.

There are many applications for maple syrup, including its traditional use as a sweetener in food.

Maple syrup is also used in cocktails or other alcoholic drinks, baked foods, and desserts.

Maple syrup can even provide the subtle sweetness that enhances flavors of other ingredients without adding extra calories to the dish.

The 5 Best Substitutes for Maple Syrup

Maple syrup is a delicious and versatile sweetener that adds a unique flavor to various recipes.

However, if you run out of maple syrup or prefer alternatives, there are several substitutes that can provide similar characteristics and sweetness.

In this guide, we will explore the top 5 substitutes for maple syrup, comparing their key characteristics and providing the proper ratios to ensure the best results in your recipes.

Substitute	Key Characteristics	Proper Ratio
Honey	Sweet, floral, and slightly different flavor than maple	Replace 1 cup of maple syrup with 3/4 cup of honey
Brown Sugar Syrup	Rich, caramel-like flavor	Replace 1 cup of maple syrup with 1 1/4 cups of brown sugar dissolved in 1 cup of water
Corn Syrup	Mildly sweet and thick	Replace 1 cup of maple syrup with 1 cup of corn syrup
Molasses	Rich, robust flavor with bitter undertones	Replace 1 cup of maple syrup with 1 cup of molasses
Buttermilk Syrup	Creamy, buttery, and slightly tangy	Replace 1 cup of maple syrup with 1 cup of buttermilk syrup

Now let’s dive into each substitute in more detail:

1 – Honey

Honey is a versatile ingredient with a subtle sweetness and unmistakable flavor.

A natural sweetener, honey varies in color and taste depending on the plants derived from it.

Honey has been used as both food and medicine for centuries.

The simplest substitute for maple syrup is regular honey instead of pure maple syrup.

This doesn’t change the dish’s flavor, but it adds a boost of sweetness.

The best kinds of honey to use are clover or orange blossom.

When using honey, it’s important to consider the strong flavors that come with it.

Honey is very powerful and can easily overwhelm other ingredients in a dish.

When substituting two parts maple syrup, a good rule of thumb equals one part, honey.

• Key Characteristics: Honey offers a sweet and floral flavor that differs slightly from maple syrup. It can be a great alternative with its own distinct taste.
• Proper Ratio: Replace 1 cup of maple syrup with 3/4 cup of honey. Adjust the quantity based on your desired level of sweetness.

2 – Brown Sugar Syrup

Brown sugar syrup is another great substitute for maple syrup.

This sweet, sticky syrup is made from brown sugar and water.

Due to the added water, this makes it much sweeter than pure maple syrup.

Brown sugar syrup typically goes by ‘golden syrup’ in the United Kingdom and Australia.

Despite its name, golden syrup is not syrup.

It’s a combination of molasses or treacle and sugar.

Unlike pure maple syrup, brown sugar syrup is much more affordable and accessible to many grocery stores worldwide.

It’s also delicious and easy to use.

• Key Characteristics: Brown sugar syrup has a rich and caramel-like flavor, providing a similar depth to your recipes as maple syrup.
• Proper Ratio: Replace 1 cup of maple syrup with 1 1/4 cups of brown sugar dissolved in 1 cup of water. Adjust the amount of brown sugar based on your desired sweetness level.

3 – Corn Syrup

Corn syrup is a common ingredient in many foods, especially those from the United States.

It’s been used as a sweetener for years due to its affordability and universal availability.

There are two kinds of corn syrup: light and dark.

However, both of these types work as substitutes for maple syrup.

Both contain high amounts of glucose, a crucial ingredient for any dish.

In the United States, corn syrup is typically made from genetically modified corn.

As such, please make sure to check your ingredients before buying this substitute.

Corn syrup has an exceptionally sweet flavor that can be overpowering if used incorrectly.

• Key Characteristics: Corn syrup offers a mildly sweet taste and a thick consistency. While it lacks the distinctive flavor of maple syrup, it can still work as a substitute for sweetness.
• Proper Ratio: Replace 1 cup of maple syrup with 1 cup of corn syrup. Note that corn syrup will not provide the same flavor profile as maple syrup.

4 – Molasses

Molasses is a byproduct of the process of refining sugarcane into sugar crystals.

Once crystallized, it’s filtered and boiled down to create molasses.

It has a distinct flavor that is both sweet and bitter.

The taste can vary depending on the type of sugars used in the refinement process.

Like corn syrup, molasses has a strong flavor that can overwhelm the taste of other ingredients in a dish.

It’s also not ideal for baking or cooking at high temperatures due to its lower sugar content than maple syrup.

Nevertheless, it is an inexpensive and accessible substitute used in many dishes.

• Key Characteristics: Molasses has a rich and robust flavor with bitter undertones. It adds depth and complexity to recipes, making it a suitable replacement for maple syrup in certain dishes.
• Proper Ratio: Replace 1 cup of maple syrup with 1 cup of molasses. Keep in mind that molasses has a stronger flavor, so adjust the quantity according to your taste preference.

5 – Buttermilk Syrup

Buttermilk syrup is a recent substitute used to imitate the flavor and consistency of maple syrup.

Unlike other substitutes, this one is non-perishable and can be kept in your cupboard.

It’s also very sweet with a subtle, tangy taste that works well as a topping for pancakes or ice cream.

However, it’s not ideal for baking.

Buttermilk syrup is a great substitute to use when you’ve run out of maple syrup and need a quick fix.

Traditional buttermilk or organic buttermilk from grass-fed cows are the best kinds to use.

Both have the same flavor, although the organic buttermilk will be slightly thicker.

This syrup is great for sweet dishes like waffles or French toast.

• Key Characteristics: Buttermilk syrup is creamy, buttery, and slightly tangy. It provides a unique taste that can enhance your recipes in a different way compared to maple syrup.
• Proper Ratio: Replace 1 cup of maple syrup with 1 cup of buttermilk syrup. Adjust the quantity based on your desired level of sweetness and tanginess.

Conclusion

Maple syrup is a delicious and healthy sweetener often used in cooking.

Fortunately, many great substitutes for maple syrup are available in every grocery store.

Whether you’re looking to save money or don’t have any left, these five alternatives will do the trick.

Each of these substitutes has its unique tastes and textures, but they work well in many dishes.

Honey is the sweetest of them all, so use it with caution to prevent overpowering your dish.

Thanks for reading. Happy cooking :).